Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said Thursday that Gen Z protests do not make youth anti-national [1].
The statement marks a significant rhetorical shift for the nationalist organization, as it seeks to bridge the gap between traditional conservative values and a younger generation increasingly vocal about systemic grievances.
Speaking at an RSS-organized student outreach event in Mumbai on Aug. 6 [1], [2], Bhagwat said the motives of young activists were defended. He described the youth as honest and said that their actions are a legitimate demand for system correction [2].
"If Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-nationals," Bhagwat said [1]. "They are our own people, our next generation."
Bhagwat pushed back against the common practice of labeling student protesters as enemies of the state. He said that the desire for reform is an expression of patriotism rather than a lack of it. The RSS chief said that the organization trusts the intentions of the youth, a sentiment he reinforced by saying, "I’ll trust Gen Z blindly; they’re not anti-nationals" [3].
The event focused on encouraging dialogue and promoting the use of constitutional protests to achieve social and political goals [1], [3]. By framing these protests as a pursuit of "system correction," Bhagwat positioned the youth's dissatisfaction as a constructive force for national improvement [2].
This outreach effort aims to counter the narrative that patriotic duty requires silent compliance. Instead, the RSS chief said that the honesty of the younger generation should be viewed as an asset to the country's future [1], [2].
“"If Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-nationals."”
This shift in rhetoric suggests the RSS is attempting to modernize its appeal to Gen Z by validating their methods of dissent. By decoupling protest from anti-nationalism, the organization may be trying to prevent the alienation of young Indians and integrate their energy into a constitutional framework that still aligns with the organization's broader nationalist goals.
